Monthly Archives: September 2017

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Sept. 20, 2017 – Embracing differences and celebrating diversity have always been core values at Aegis Living, the national leader in assisted living and memory care. Now, Aegis Living CEO Dwayne Clark is joining a team of national peace activists, led by Ken Nwadike, the “Free Hugs Guy” to coordinate the March for Civility in Washington D.C.

Free Hugs Guy
The “Free Hugs Guy,” Ken Nwadike became an instant peace activist after giving out free hugs at the Boston Marathon following the terrible bombing tragedy. He has made headlines for his peacekeeping efforts and de-escalation of violence during protests, riots and political rallies, many times by offering free hugs to those involved.

Nwadike will be speaking at the March for Civility, along with Aegis CEO Clark, co-founder and National Organizer of the Black Panther Party Bobby Seale and Daryl Davis, an African American race relations expert known for his ability to get KKK members to denounce their affiliation.

March for Civility
The March for Civility gives participants a platform to speak out against hate, violence, racism and injustice, and to unite in peace. Nearly 100 Aegis Living employees will travel from the West Coast and join the more than five thousand marches registered for the peace rally.

“I am very proud of the large team from Aegis Living who will be traveling across the country to stand united in our effort to restore civility in this country,” says Clark. “Respect and dignity are core values at Aegis. We celebrate our diverse backgrounds. It pains me to hear the stories of divisiveness that are pulling so many apart. I don’t believe this is the norm for most Americans. I don’t believe it has to be this way and feel compelled to do something about it.”

About Aegis Living
Aegis Living is a national leader in assisted living and memory care. The privately-held company founded in 1997 is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., and operates 28 communities in Washington, California and Nevada. Follow the company on Twitter @aegisliving and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AegisLiving or visit the company website at www.aegisliving.com.

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Media Inquiries
To obtain video or images from the March for Civility or to interview Dwayne Clark contact:

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, is now accepting applications for its 2018 Excellence in Innovation Award. The deadline for interested institutions to apply for the $100,000 award is December 12, 2017.

Awarded each biennium, the Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes one college or university for achievement in finding powerful substantive solutions to improve the lives of others and create systematic large-scale change. The recipient institution will receive $100,000 in tangible recognition of its best practice in response to the changes and challenges facing higher education in the 21st century.

“The Phi Kappa Phi Excellence in Innovation Award is a fitting extension of our mission to recognize and promote excellence in higher education by lifting up the transformative work being done on college and university campuses across the country,” said Dr. Mary Todd, the Society’s executive director.

Since 1932, Phi Kappa Phi has awarded fellowships and grants to members and students on its chapter campuses. Currently, more than $700,000 is awarded annually through programs that last year recognized over 285 individuals. The Excellence in Innovation Award, first awarded in 2016 to Tulane University, is the Society’s only award for institutions.

The application period for colleges and universities to apply for the Excellence in Innovation Award is open until December 12, 2017. For more information including award criteria, eligibility, and timeline details, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Innovation.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. Since its founding, Phi Kappa Phi has recognized the academic excellence of more than 1.5 million members on its chapter campuses. For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

New survey shows that Dallas is one of the most affordable cities for date night

DALLAS – September 11, 2017 – You’ve shined up your leather Nike high tops and cleared your schedule. Your favorite band is on tour and it’s the hottest ticket around and you’re planning to paint the town with your partner in crime.

Operation Date Night is in full swing, but with an asterisk: you’re on a budget.

Still, you’ve got to clean up and impress your date.

The good news: this endeavor doesn’t require a bank loan if you live in Dallas. In fact, it’s cheaper to wine, dine and impress in Dallas than most other major metro areas, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Second Quarter 2017 Cost of Living Index.

Pizza and a movie? Cheaper in Dallas.

A glass of wine before heading out the door? Again, cheaper in Dallas.

Take a look at this chart, which compares the cost of “going out” in the cities that have added the most jobs in the last 12 months ending in July 2017, and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

Say Yes to Dallas: Good Times Going Out Index

Haircut

Beauty salon

Hamburger

Pizza

Movie

6-Pack Beer

IBUPROFEN*

Wine

Totals

Dallas

$26.10

$47.86

$4.10

$8.35

$9.96

$8.74

$7.31

$7.11

$119.53

Atlanta

$20

$45.05

$3.69

$8.84

$14.68

$9.29

$9.49

$7.91

$118.95

Miami

$14.40

$76

$4.19

$8.99

$12.01

$9.69

$11.09

$7.21

$143.58

DC

$23.67

$74.25

$4.79

$10.99

$13.25

$9.99

$10.99

$8.99

$156.92

Manhattan

$23

$65

$5.44

$11.99

$15.69

$11.99

$12.99

$11.99

$158.09

* In case you had too much of a good time

We’ve neglected to mention perhaps the most-important fact: being able to pay for this. Unless you’re Bruce Wayne, you’ll need a job.

Dallas has been a top-three metro area for job growth for roughly four years now, according to the Department of Labor Statistics, and residents bring home more bacon than people in most other states, thanks to no income taxes. Those with skills in the leisure and hospitality sector and the professional and business services sectors have especially benefited, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There’s something to be said for living in a place where companies are hiring at a healthy clip and where going out doesn’t require staying in to save up.

Simply put: Dallas does date night better.

Want to know more about what it really means to live in Dallas? Check out www.SayYesToDallas.com to learn what the region has to offer.

About the Dallas Regional Chamber
The Dallas Regional Chamber is the voice of business and the champion of economic development and growth in the Dallas Region. We work with our 1,200 member companies and regional partners to strengthen our business community by advocating for pro-growth public policies, improving our educational system, attracting talented workers from around the world, and enhancing the quality of life for all. Our goal is to make Dallas the best place in America to live, work, and do business. For more information, please contact the Dallas Regional Chamber at 214.746.6600 or visit www.dallaschamber.org.

The deadline to apply for a study abroad grant from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is Friday, September 15. Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all discipline honor society, will award 25 $1,000 grants to students nationwide.

Awarded twice a year—50 in the spring and 25 in the fall—the grants are designed to support undergraduates, both members and nonmembers, as they seek expanded knowledge and experience in their academic fields. Interested students do not have to be a member of Phi Kappa Phi to apply, but must currently attend an institution with an active chapter.

“Phi Kappa Phi’s Study Abroad Grant helped me bridge the difference between my current resources and my dreams,” said Ian McLaughlin, Session A grant recipient from Brigham Young University. “I will always be grateful for those who provide this type of funding for purpose-driven, highly-motivated students to pursue targeted international experiences.”

Phi Kappa Phi gives 75 study abroad grants annually to students on its chapter campuses. Since its inception in 2001, the program has awarded more than $775,000.

In addition to the study abroad program, the Society awards $1.4 million each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

The application period for students to apply for a $1,000 study abroad grant is currently open until September 15. For full eligibility requirements and application instructions, visit www.phikappaphi.org/studyabroad.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

First Nationwide At-Home STD Testing Service Reminds College Students to Practice Safe Sex with Following Tips

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 - With millions of college students returning to school, the chances for sexual encounters increase, amidst a growing STI epidemic. According to the CDC, almost two-thirds of all reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the United States were among people aged 15–24. This risk is made even greater because having one of these STIs can increase the chances of contracting HIV.

Speaking of HIV, there’s a shocking amount of people who have never been tested. According to a report published in the journal Pediatrics, only one-third of sexually active young adults have ever been tested for HIV. That’s a lot of undiagnosed cases.

To that end, myLAB Box, the first nationwide at-home STD testing service, announced today tips for college students to practice safe sex:

A. Condoms. The condom is one of your best methods of defense against infection and unwanted pregnancies. When used correctly, they can offer a 98% chance of preventing pregnancy. While not perfect, latex condoms are also among the best ways to protect against many STIs.

a. Tips for Condom Usage:

- Only use latex condoms.
- Use a new condom for every act of vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
- Always check the expiration date on a condom. An expired condom can break easily, rendering it useless. Chances are, that condom that’s been in your wallet since freshman year may be one of them.
- If you feel the condom break at any point during sexual activity, stop immediately and put on a new condom. That may not set the mood you’re looking for, but you’ll be glad you did.
- Never “double-bag it.” This means wearing multiple condoms at once. Contrary to urban legend, twice the condom does not offer twice the protection.

B. Other Methods of Protection. There are other ways to protect yourself as you go back to school and back in bed. These include the birth control pill, the patch and the ring, all of which are prescribed by your doctor. All of these methods are designed to administer hormones to your body – via pill, a patch that is worn on your skin, or a ring that you insert vaginally – for 3 weeks at a time, with your period occurring in the 4th week.

These methods are great at stopping baby-making, which is great news for young people who may not be ready for parenthood. But these methods of birth control can still leave you exposed to a wide range of STIs.

C. Back to School, Back to Testing. Again, STIs are a serious health risk. Regular testing is the best way to consistently know your status. As the numbers of STIs increases, we all need to amp up our level of carefulness.

For example, HPV is shockingly common. Far more people than you might expect are living with this ultra-common STI. Just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s harmless, though. According to the CDC, HPV is responsible for nearly 91% of cervical cancers, 75% of vaginal cancers, 69% of vulvar cancers, 63% of penile cancers and 91% of anal cancers.

One of the smartest moves you can make for your sexual health is to get tested for HPV and other STIs. If you’re too nervous to go to a clinic, you can order an at-home STI testing kit and do the test right in your dorm room. It’s so easy that it leaves you with no valid excuses for not getting tested. It even comes in a discreet package.

D. Safe Sex Isn’t As Safe As You May Think. STIs are not only passed through intercourse. You can also contract them from oral sex and, in some cases, even from kissing. For example, herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea are three infections that can directly affect your mouth or throat. It pays to educate yourself on the common signs and symptoms of the most common STIs. myLAB Box’s blog and FAQ page provide invaluable study material.

F. Test Like Nobody’s Watching. A lot of college students are nervous about testing. That makes sense. Teens and young adults are often too shy to go to a clinic or doctor’s office.

Even just the idea of the lab bills being reported on their parents’ health insurance seems mortifying. But that’s still no reason to avoid being tested.

myLAB Box offers quick and private tests that can be paid for out-of-pocket (and for about half of the price you would at a doctor’s office). These tests take five minutes to complete and are shipped in discreet packaging. You can take them anytime and anyplace. If you live in one of the many states that offers telemedicine, and most do, you can even speak with a doctor and get prescribed your treatment right over the phone for no extra charge. It’s simply the easiest and most convenient way to be tested.

If you schedule your tests along with arriving back to school, you’ll be in total control of your sexual health. It’s a win-win situation for any sexually active young person.

“When we’re talking about sex, the risk of a surprise pregnancy is what most people worry about. That said, you absolutely need to keep an eye out for sexually transmitted diseases and infections, too,” said Lora Ivanova, Co-Founder of myLAB Box. “Even though you may know your bedroom partners from class, that’s not the same thing as knowing their STI status. College is often a time when students experiment with their sexual activity, have multiple partners and dates, and play it a little loose with the rules. With as many as 80% of infections showing little to no symptoms, you’ll never know if someone is free and clear of STIs unless they’ve been tested. We hope these tips will be a good reminder to college students to practice safe sex.”

And to help college students everywhere take greater control of their sexual health, myLAB Box is offering a 20% discount for all of September with the following discount code – backtoschool2017. And for students with either a medical Flexible Savings Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Accounts (HSA) accounts, myLAB Box proudly accepts both FSA and HSA as payment options, making its service even more affordable and accessible for men and women in every state.

About myLAB Box
Founded in 2013, myLAB Box is the first company to offer a nationwide at-home screening platform for STDs. All myLAB Box kits use FDA-approved technology and are validated by fully licensed CLIA-certified myLAB Box lab affiliates with decades of experience in testing for infectious diseases. By selling direct to consumers myLAB Box is able to offer exceptional service at half the cost of conventional lab tests. From affordable screening to complimentary physician consultations for positives, every aspect of the myLAB Box service is designed to be safe, effective and efficient. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California. For more information, visit: www.mylabbox.com.

Riverwoods, IL, Sept. 6, 2017 – Discover just passed the halfway point of its Discover it® Student Card design poll. Thus far, the iridescent pattern design (32%) and the Frenchie-in-sunglasses design (21%) are pulling ahead in the race. Voting closes Sept. 21 at midnight Central Time, so students should cast a vote at www.discover.com/student-card-poll.html. The winning card design will be available in early 2018.

Discover is also offering a $50 statement credit for students who apply through the link on the poll, are approved and make a purchase within the first three months.1

For many students, credit can be overwhelming, especially when getting their first credit card. A great resource for students is the Discover Credit Resource Center, which offers practical tips for managing credit, such as:

- Pick a credit card that fits your lifestyle. Not all credit cards are created equal, especially student cards. Take time to research and compare credit cards to find the one that best matches your lifestyle and spending habits.- Understand all of the credit card terms. Read the fine print, including the information about the card’s Annual Percentage Rate (APR), fees and rewards.- Get rewarded for building credit. With the Discover it® Chrome for Students, students receive 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1000 in combined purchases each quarter. So while you’re building credit history, you’ll also be earning cash back. - Regularly check your credit score. The only way to know where your credit stands is to check it. With Discover Credit Scorecard, students, even those who aren’t Discover cardholders, can receive their FICO® Credit Score2 for free, making it easy to track your score.

About Discover Student Cards
The Discover it® for Students and Discover it® Chrome for Students Credit Cards offer students a great way to build their credit history early in their lives. These student cards come with many benefits including rewards on categories that students often spend in.

- The Discover it® for Students offers 5% cash back in categories that change each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum, when you sign up.
- The Discover it® Chrome for Students offers an automatic 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly.

Both cards earn 1% cash back on all other purchases, as well as a Good Grade $20 Cashback Bonus if their grade point average is 3.0 (or equivalent) or higher each year they are enrolled in school, for the first five years from the account opening.3

About Discover
Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America’s cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home equity loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its direct banking business. It operates the Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation’s leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

1 Get a $50 statement credit after you make your first purchase with a Discover it® for Students card within 3 months of approval. Offer only available to new cardmembers. Your statement credit will be automatically added to your Discover Card account within 1-2 billing periods.

2FICO® Credit Scores provided by Credit Scorecard are based on data from Experian and may be different from other credit scores. See Discover.com/CreditScorecard to learn more. FICO is a registered trademark of the Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.

3Good Grades Rewards: Good Grade Reward only available to new cardmembers on or after 7/23/2015 who indicate on their application that they are currently enrolled in college, and whose accounts are current and remain open when the Good Grade Reward is requested. Students with a Discover it® or Discover it® chrome card who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher (or equivalent) during a School Year (September – August) may apply at Discover.com for a $20 Cashback Bonus (“Good Grade Reward”). One Good Grade Reward per School Year, per account, up to a maximum of five (5) consecutive years from the date your account is opened. Terms of Good Grade Reward Offer are subject to change.

Reminder Services, Inc., a provider of automated communications for the healthcare industry, today announced the launch of a new scholarship program for students pursuing an education in physical therapy.

For its inaugural year, the ReminderCall.com Physical Therapy Scholarship will award $1,000 scholarships to up to five physical therapy students who exhibit academic excellence and a strong sense of personal commitment to continuing their education.

“ReminderCall.com has been providing patient reminders to physical therapists since 1998. Over the years we’ve come to realize that the physical therapy field is often overlooked by scholarship grantors,” said Chantal Oicles, President. “We’re excited to help aspiring PTs fund their education. It’s our way of thanking the physical therapy community for welcoming us with open arms.”

To be eligible, an applicant must be a U.S. resident and a college sophomore, junior or senior or a graduate student enrolled in a physical therapy program at an accredited college for the 2017-18 academic year. He or she must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

About Reminder Services, Inc.
Reminder Services, Inc. is a Silicon-Valley based company that provides automated appointment reminders. The ReminderCall.com system lets therapists send appointment reminder calls, reminder text messages and reminder emails to patients. We work with an impressive list of Physical Therapy EHRs, EMRs, and scheduling software products. Therapists can customize everything, from voices and languages to delivery dates, times and frequencies. We help adhere to FCC, TCPA, CANSPAM, HIPAA and CASL guidelines.